be so. (Cheers.) The former, the statesman of Poon- | Capt. T., "that rare felicity' is not less the portion of one ah, was a soldier at Assaye, the latter, the states- honoured guest, than it was of Mr. Elphinstone--for man of Delhi, was a soldier at Deeg. (Loud cheers,) without I have misinterpreted the manifestations of public Having mentioned Mr. Elphinstone's name, he might feeling here and elsewhere, of the hundreds present, of well pursue the parallel between these distinguish the thousands absent throughout India, Sir Charles Meted men, for in very many points the resemblance calfe has descended from his throne of power without the was striking, but that the attempt would lead him to loss of a single friend.-(Loud cheers.) Captain. T. too great length; on no one point however did they concluded by requesting the company to join him in more especially resemble each other than in prince- drinking SIR CHARLES METCALFE's health with all the ly liberality and remarkable amenity of disposition honors - as" THE SOLDIER OF DEEG." (Great cheering.) and manner to all classes. It was," said Captain Tay- Sir Charles then rose, but would not "own the soft lor," my good fortune to be present at the entertainment impeachment," and said that Captain Taylor had been given to Mr. Elphinstone at Bombay, when that gentle partly misinformed upon the subject, although someman was then to quit India for ever, as Sir Charles thing of the kind certainly had taken place; however, it Metcalfe is departing now, amidst the regrets, the tears, did not much signify as Captain Taylor spoke exceedingly and blessings of assembled crowds. In respect to Mr. well, and the company very vigorously applauded. Short Elphinstone, it was then well remarked that he had given ly after this the supper room was vacated, and we, who a useful lesson to all gentlemen who might hereafter rise decidedly agree with Leigh Hunt, that all writers to high stations in public life in India, by showing that -who would cherish their powers universal kindness so far from being incompatible with dignified office, is sure to command universal good-will, and that in his own case it would yield him the rare feli city of relinquishing power without the loss of a single friend. (Cheers.) Unless I am greatly mistaken," said And hope to be deafless, must keep to good hours; took our departure instantly as did many others of the élete! Dancing, however, was resumed and carried on - we know not to what hour, Perhaps they are dancing still.-Hurkaru, Feb. 15. REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE IN AID OF THE SUFFERERS BY THE GREAT FIRES IN CALCUTTA IN 1837. money subscribed was for the benefit principally, if not entirely, of the very poorest class of sufferers, and not for those whose situations in life secure them comfortable salaries, by means of which loans might be effected in the ordinary way, without application to this committee. By the publication of the Resolutions of the 9th, 12th,, by the month, extending the period of repayment over one 15th, and 16th May last, subscribers were made aware two, or three years; an arrangement obviously inconof the mode of operation determined upon. The Com-venient and difficult to be entered into on the part of the mittee, divided into several sub-committees, have patient-committee, especially when it is remembered that the ly endeavoured to act up to those resolutions, and to observe the course of proceeding therein laid down but they have been obliged to proceed with extreme caution and reserve, having from the first met with considerable difficulty from the desire shewn by many of the people burnt out to take advantage of the benevolence of the subscribers, from their apathy even in their own behalf, and from local considerations affecting individual cases. It has been found that many who solicited aid at first proceeded shortly to build huts for themselves, shewing that they were not in real distress. In several parts, especially in the districts of the town, under the first and second sub-committee's, there appears to have been little or no necessity to aid the personal efforts of the inhabitants themselves. The committee at an early date made an arrangement for furnishing tiles in any required quantity to the poor sufferers, a measure by which good materials were placed at their disposal at an uniform and reasonable rate; grants of 'tiles have been accordingly made to individuals on certificates from the sub-committee, instead of pecuniary assistance, and with beneficial effects. But the principal consideration with the committee is, that although previous to the rainy season their outlay was not very considerable, owing to the causes above assigned, yet as the rains approached and set in, the people without shelter became more desirous of entering into the views of the General Committee, and latterly the applications for assistance became so numerous, that, after the personal observation which most of the members have had of the extent of distress among the poorest peo ple still remaining to be attended to,-the general com mittee are persuaded they will require the whole of the means at their command for distribution among that class of the sufferers alone. Early in January 1838, a sub-committee was appointed for the purpose of enquiring whether it might not be possible advantageously to lay out the remaining funds in the erection of lines of tiled huts, across spaces geneFinding that the setting in of the rainy season ren-rally occupied by thatched huts, or in tiling small clus dered it impossible satisfactorily to carry on their opera- ters of thatched huts, still found in spaces chiefly occu tions, the General Committee resolved the execution of pied by tiled huts. The sub-committee was composed the main object of their association, the erection of tiled of the following persons; D. Mc Farlan, Esq., Capt. R. huts in place of those burnt down, until a more favorable state of the weather should enable them to resume it. of opinion, J. H. Birch, Capt. F. W. Birch, Dr. Vos, Capt. Vint, Baboo Russomoy Dutt, Rustomjee Cowasjee, Esq., During the rains the plan pursued was to bestow Mr. Balston, Mr. Lindstedt, and Baboo Ramdhone assistauce on such persons as were actually without shel- Ghose; and they reported that after having inspected a ter, to enable them to cover in their huts with auy de. considerable space occupied by native dwellings in the scription of available materials, restricting such assis- neighbourhood of Fenwick's Bazar, the Free School, tance to those who were in real distress, and only grant-Collingah, and Dhurrumtollah, they were unanimously ing the smallest sums necessary for the object. When the season permitted, the operation of tiling and of sub- "1st. That the funds at our disposal would not enstituting tiles for the temporary thatching was resumed. able the committee to adopt the course proposed in the The committee avail themselves of this opportunity to first alternative in more than one or two considerable explain their reasons for not making loans of large a-spaces occupied by thatched huts, and that the appropri mount to individual sufferers: in the first place no appli- ation of the money to such lines would be to give pe 'cant for a loan has yet offered any sort of security for cuniary advantage to individuals not standing in need the repayment of the money, or for its being made good of it and generally to appropriate to special localities in case of their decease-besides which, the terms of repay-selected (referring to the time and labour we have to " tended in the first instance for the relief of the poor in whatever part of the town they might happen to reside. 2. That it would be proper to adopt the 2 alternative proposed in the resolution in all cases where the sub-committees considered it désirable. It will ordinarily be found that the inhabitants whose huts are proposed to be tiled, will willingly execute the improvement on being furnished with tiles, and in general we think the gradual appropriation by the sub-committees of the funds at our disposal to such cases, and those of great proverty, or in other words, a continuance of the plan hitherto followed by the sub-committees would renler, under all the circumstances, be the best course to adopt." In these sentiments the General Committee concurs, and it is accordingly resolved to proceed as heretofore till the sum remaining in hand shall be entirely distributed on the plan originally laid down. Subjoined is a statement of what has been done and of the present amount of the funds. J. GREGORY Voss, M. D. Cal., Jan. 26, 1838. Secu. District Charitable Society. 13,604 10 0 20,000 0 0 Government donation.. St. Stephen's Church, Dum-Dum St. Peter's Church.... Principal Roman catholic church.... .... .... J. L. Russell, Esq.. ..... 8 Baboo Gudadhur Mitter... Archd. Śconce, Esq.. Baboo Hurrochunder Bose... Baboo Gunganarain.. Baboo Budden Mitter.... .... 112221 .... 100 .... .... .... .... 8 Messrs. Pitta, Lattey and Co. Messrs. Pittar and Co.... 16 20 .... 0 0 Baboo Gopaul Mullick..... Mr. W. W. Robinson..... 20 0 0 16 .... 0 0 A. D. Parker, Esq 16 .... 0 0 BY CAPTAIN A. BURNES. Definition of Derajat. 1st. The country on the right bank of the Indus, below the salt range, till that river is joined by the waters of the Punjab, is known by the name of Derajat. It is so designated from the two principal towns in the tract, Dera Ghazce Khan, and Dera Ismal Khan. Derajat being the Arabic plural of the word Dera. The lower part of the tract, bears the local name of Sinde, and the upper that of Damun (or border) from its bordering on the mountains of Sooleeman. The country itself is flat and in many places fertile, particularly in the vicinity of the two Deras; but to the westward of the river, even at a distance of a few miles, there are no wells, and the soil is entirely dependant on rain, and water from the hills, without which, there is no crop. On the opposite bund of the river in Leia, the Indus overflows to the east, and the land which is exceedingly rich, yields heavy crops, and is known by the name of Cuchec." From Leia the great ferry of Daheeree conducts the merchant beyond the Indus into Deerajat, and as the mountains are crossed by caravan route that lead to Cabool and Candahar, and as it is here that the greatest of the Indian Caravans assemble before passing to the west, the Derajat is invested with a high degree of cominercial importance. nature of the traffic will be best explained by observing Other Caravan routes from India. Caravan of the Lohanees, Camels, &c.,-Its Route. 2d. From Calcutta, by Lucknow, Delhi, Hansee and Bhawulpore: from Bombay, by Pallee, Becaneer, Bhawulpore, Multán: from Umrutsir by Jung and 3d. Having given the routes of the Lohanee caraLeia, and from Dhera Ghazee Khan itself on the south, van, I ought now to note the whole of the other roads by Bhawulpore; all these routes join at the small town leading from India to Cabool, but it would be impossible of Drabund, about 30 miles west of Dera Ismael Khan. to do justice to the subject by any verbal description. At this point, commences the well known road by the There are three great roads leading from India, the first Goomul river to the pass of Goolairee, which is always by Labore and Attock, the next from the Darajat (altraversed by the Lohanee Afghans, some of them ready described) and the last by the Bolan pass, from enter the mountains higher up west of Tak, and also by Shikarpoor to Candahar, intermediate to these lines lie an inferior pass named "Cheeree," lower down; but all various routes, some of which have been used even by eventually join, about 45 miles from Drabund. These large bodies of armed men, and, though, therefore, very people are pastoral and migratory, and many of them important,need not detain us here, as they are not at preproceed annually into India to purchase merchandize, sent used by the merchants. I may only observe of that and all assemble here in the end of April, their families leading from Dera Ghazee Khan across the Sukhee Surhaving wintered on the banks of the Indus, to pass into wur pass, by Boree, to Candahar, that it has been used Khorasan for the summer. They effect this in fixed in modern times by the kings of Cabool, to supply the order by three divisions or "Kirees," which, I believe, luxury of mangoes, and that I met persons who had seen simply mean migrations, and these bear the names of the fruit arrive by it at Candahar from the Indus, in 8 Nasseer Kharoutee, and Meeankhly, which is that of or 9 days. The climate of Goree is described in very the branches of the tribes conducting them. The first favorable terms, both by Mr. Elphinstone, and all the is the most numerous, and with if, go from 50 to 60,000 natives I have interrogated; and by this route Baber head of sheep, but it is with the last, that indoo mer-passed up to Ghuzni with his force after the campaign of His horse suffered from the chants and foreigners generally travel. The extensive 1505, already alluded to. want of grain, but as a caravan route, this seems not about one lac of rupees in value. The dye is inferior inferior to the Golairee pass, and only to have been to that procured in Bhawul Khan's country, but it is deserted of late years; and at the present hour is used cheaper and has a ready sale ia Cabool and Bokhara, by couriers Cossids to bring speedy information to and from India. From Dera Ismael Khan, north to Peshawur, there is no direct traffic. The roads are bad, the people are predatory. From Dera Ghazee Khan, south by Dajel and Her and, there are roads leading over low hills to Bag Dadur, and the Bolan pass, which have been used by large Caravans within these 25 years. Dera Ghazee Khan, indeed, and shikarpoor, as I stated when writing on that mart, are always spoken of by the people, as two gates of Khorassan. Dera Ghazee Khan described. besides being nearer at hand. The cotton of Dera Ghazee Khan is superior, being soft in staple, 25,000 maunds are procurable, it is at present exported. Sugar is cultivated, but in small quantities, and only of late years.-The place is rich in grain, the wheat and barley are superior, but the rice is red and indifferent. The price of grain in June 1837, was as follows, the currency being that of Shooja Ool Moolk, and much the same as the Company's rupee, and the maund as that of Shikarpoor already described. Rice per maund of 40 seers, 80 rupees to a seer...... Rice, 2nd sort, 1 maund.. Dal, or Mohree, 2 maunds.. .... 3 Rupees. 2 to 1 1 81 Salt per ruja, or piece of 1 maund 25 31 ... 31 26 Under Cabool, Dera Ghazee Khan yielded a yearly revenue of about 12 lacs of rupees, it now proluces 8 4th. In a neighbourhood so advantageously situated the merchant exports the native productions of the soil with profit, and the manufacturer converts them, and the imports from other countries into cloth which accompanies these and the foreign goods that pass through it in transit. Dera Ghazee Khan itself is a manufacturing town, but it is surpassed by Multan and Bhawulpoor, which are in its neighbourhood; on these two marts I shall be silent, as their commerce has engaged the attention of Lieutenant Leech, whose reports will convey every and the fullest information of Dera Ghazee Khan. I need only speak at one time, its trade with the west and even with east, was brisk,and though it does not now exhibit its former prosperity, from the great influx of British goods, its native manufactures are yet healthy and thriving. It is celebrated for its goolbuddens and or 9 lacs, and that only within these two or three years. duriaees, or striped and plain silken cloths, which being Sungur on the north, and Hunand Dajel on the south, -The country which gives this includes the distret of sought for, and admired, are yet annually exported to also Bachee across the Indus. It is farmed to the same Lahore and to Sinde, and considered to surpass those of every other country. To the east it sends its silks, deriv. person who is now Governor of Multan, and it is iming the raw material from Bokhara, and the west. To the Proving daily. The number of villages around Dera west it sends its cotton, and the greatest of its exported all peopled by Mahomedans, and in the town of Dera Ghazee Khan is exceedingly numerous; they are nearly manufactures,is coarse white cloth, which is sent to Khoras Ghazee Khan the two tribes are about equal, there san, and yet stands its ground with English cloth, as far as demand goes, though far its inferior in quality. The being in it 125 Hindoo temples and 110 mosques, great demand for British calicoes has decreased by one of this leviable in Dera Ghazee, on all sales of cloth are, I and small, every description inclusive.-The duties year; on this account last year; the sales effected amounted to 50,000 rupees, and for this, it is under 24,000. Chintzes of different descriptions, with soosee, bafta, and some coarse loongees, complete the list. There are no woollen manufactures. The value of all these may amount to about one and a half, or two lacs Cammunication and Transits to and from Cabool, &c. of rupees, and the greater part is exported. A coarse kind of cutlery, swords, scissors, knives (such as are 6th. Dera Ghazee Khan communicates with all the used by sailors) is made at Dera Ghazee Khan and countries around it, by good roads except those to the exported. The bazar consists of about 1,600 shops; west, where it is necessary to qualify that term: a list of 530 of which are engaged in weaving and selling cloth, the marts or places of note may not be useless, and I may 1 annex a list of them. The Town has a prosperous prefix to it that goods of every description, quitting appearance, which is a together attributed to the protec- Dera Ghazee Khan, pay an ad valorem duty of 24 pertion of Monsieur Ventura, who was lately in charge of cent. to Asnec, Hunund, Cutch Gaudava, Mitthen, this district. It may have a population of 25,000 people. Shikarpoor, Bhawulpoor, Khyrpoor, Ullah Yar, HyderaIt is said to have been built by a Belooch about 300 bad, Multan, Lahore, and Umrutsir, all merchandize years since, and its name long fluctuated between "Ghazee Khan," and " Hajee Khan." It was completely subject to the crown of Cabool, and fell into the hands of the Sheiks, about 25 years ago. They farmed it to Bhawul Khan, who had no interest in protecting it, and his officers were guilty of gross extortion, but since it was resumed in 1832, it has greatly recovered itself. Productions, Prices, Revenues of Dera Ghazee khan. 5th. The country around Dera Ghazee Khan is very rich; the town is plesantly situated in a flat country about four miles from the Indus and surrounded by gardens and lofty trees, among which the date predomi nates. It is said indeed that there are 80,000 date trees around Dera. By far the most valuable production of the place is Indigo, 2,000 maunds of which were this year exported to the west. I am informed that this is the full resource of the district. The best soit now sells for 65 rupees per maund, the next for 50, and the most pues per rupee, which paid at the Custom-house (Chuled the old tax mohsool (qudeemee) and paid by citizens, bootra) immediately after the transaction. This is cal-foreigners pay double. whether cloth or groceries, is taxed in this manner. But since the most important route in this line is that of the great caravans to Cabool, I shall particularize the duties there leviable. At the outset, the first charge is as above. Ad valorem..... At Kot Tuga, per camel.... Landed at the caravanseries of Cabool, one in forty is taken in pieces of cloth; Indigo, and groceries are compounded for, at 20 rupees per camel load. This is the whole duty of the road. In effecting sales, a hrokerage caravansaria hire and porterage. Cabool the duties are as follows on Ad valorem............... At Drabun per muu of every kind (ifto any but a Shikapooree, the charge is 10 rupees)........ At Dera Ghazee Khan per man if advanced from this.... At Bhawul Khan's frontier per camed...... On returning from 6 rupees. 10 annas. 3 rupees. and grain than is required, and it is therefore shipped for Dera Ghazee Khan, which contributes still further to keep down the price of provisions at the town. The salt of Kala Bagh a also used all along this line of the iver, and brought down by boats, but a few cargoes of it supply the population. The pilgrim boats likewise take in a little cargo, for which I find there is a regulated charge, but as this is unknown to Government, it may be considered a kind of smuggling. So organized however is it, that a weight of 8 maunds may be sent down to the following rates-Dara Ghozee Khan to Mirthen 2 rupees, to Shikapoor or Roree 6 rupees, to Schun 7 rupees, to Hyderabad 9 rupees, and to Gora Baree 12 rupees, all this is indicative that there is a channel of trade by the Indus. The only instance however of upword communication, of a late date, is in a Shikarpooree merchant freighting a vessel with molasses or goor from Dera Ghazee, to Dera Ismael Khan, about four years ago, and bringing salt in return. The coll season was selec tel, and the voyage performed in 15 days, the distance being about 160 miles; the down ward voyage occupied merchant has since forwarded goor to Shikarpoor. At the opposite season it may be as well to state, that the voyage from Mitthen to Dera Ismael Khan, was male in 19 days, during May and June. The road distance, is about 250 miles, perhaps a quarter more by the river, and as the swell is n ar its height, the result in a At Bhawulpoor (though the u-ual route here is via Multan)...... 3 to 5 per cent. Nothing therefore is more complicated in appearance than these duties; and one is surprized at the novel mode of weighing cloth and levying duties accordingly. The Hindoo merchant of Shikarpooree, it will be seen, has a great advantage over the Mahomedan, which arises from its being advisable to give encouragement to a great dealer. The duties in conveying gools to Khorassan are heavier than in returning, probably from the greater value of the articles: the expenses of an investment to, and from Dera Ghazee Khan, to Cabool, and Candahar, four days. The speculation was profitable, and the sime are rated at 35 per cent. the profit in excess is calculated at 25 per cent, and this is generally realized, From Dera Ghazee Khan, to Drabund, 90 coss, the hire of a camal is 3 rupees; from that to Cabool, it depends upon the supply, varying from 20 to 30 rupees per head. not Sellers of cloth.. Camp at Attock, 5th August, 1837. .... Weavers of white cloth Cleaners of coitoa Sellers of cotton Boot and shoe makers Tailors.... .... Of Dera Ismael Khan, its Trade, Revenue, &c. 7th. Dera Ismael Khan, is in these parts next in commercial point of view, is encouraging. In naviga importance to Dera Ghazee, but is is only a third of its ting the Indus above Mitthen it will not be omitted in the size, and labours under disa Ivantages from its position. calculations of the merchant, that both men, and boats About 12 years ago, the town was washel into the may be hired for one half the sum paid in Sinde, The Indus, and on a new site about three miles from the river, contrary of this is stated in my printed work, and I am the inhabitants have again fixed themselves. Till lately glad of an opportunity to correct the error after finding the place was held by a Mahomedan Chief, who lai it out by actual experience. out the new town with order and regularity, having wide streets and a good bezar, but the Sheiks posses-el themselves of Dera Ismael, a year ago, and are likely to work out his plans of improvement, as yet the houses are built of sunburned brick, and the town has an deserted look, but it is said to be a place of much stir and bustle in the winter, when the Athgans return from Khorassan to its neighbourhood. There is a large caravansarai in it, where they transact their business and dispose of much of their goods, for Dera Ismael is their bazar town. It contains 518 shops, but there are no native manufactures here, as in the Lower Dera. The wool of the Lohanee sheep is not sold here, but in Cabool, Cap makers where an agent, if dispatched, might procure the article in abundance, and, at the same time, the means of transporting it. The transit of coarse white cloth from the Punjab through Dera Ismael to Drabund is great, amounting to no less than 3,000 camel loads a year Each package contains about 600 yards of cloth, the and English yard being the same, so that we have an export of 1,800,000 yards of this fabric. It is manufactured at Meengana, Jung, &c. also at Rohan, and might be made in Britain. Most of these goods are cros sed at the ferry opposite Dera Ismael, and pay much heavier duties than lower down; 24 rupees being ex Cooper smiths.. acted on every maund of weight, while 7 to 10 annas is the demand at Kaheeree, which readily accounts for the caravans crossing at that ferry. The revenue of Dera Ismael Khan amounts to 4 lacs of rupees per aunum, of this 2 lacs and 8,000 are derived from the taxes and town duties from Kaheeree south, to Eesa Khyl north, and the rest from the lands subject to Dera Ismael Khan. Grain and the necessaries of life are more expensive than in the Lower Dera, the supplies are also received by the river from Murwut which is a grain country. Pipe sellers.... Paper sellers Water Communications-Boat-hire. guz 8th. The Derajat, as I have stated lies along the Indus, and the advantages of the river are so obvious a even not to have escaped the people. The productives soil of Sungur, 50 miles to the north, under the hills Dealers in vegetables.. THE BAZAR OF DERA GHAZBE KHAN ON THE INDUS, Nos. of Shops. 115 25 128 112 25 17 219 55 25 15 50 15 40 32 30 75 40 10 30 30 45 25 60 12 9 30 20 50 15 30 12 18 18 165 Total..1,597 Dera Ghazee Khan, June 13, 1837. |